Autoclave



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I Nov. 3, 1970 Filed Jan; 6, 1967 AUTOCLAVE 7 Filed Jan, e, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 COMPRESSOR FILTER F IG. 4

J. F.ADAMIK AUTOCLAVE Nov. 3, I

Filed Jan. e, 1967 v v United States Patent Office Patented Nov. 3, 1970 3,537,825 AUTOCLAVE Jaroslav F. Adamik, Warren, R.I., assignor to Bristol Manufacturing Corporation, Bristol, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Jan. 6, 1967, Ser. No. 611,791

Int. Cl. B01j 3/02 US. Cl. 23-290 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for the treatment of material in a more or less continuous manner under automatically controlled conditions of time, temperature and pressure, for example, for the vulcanization of rubber, whose operative parts, including loading and unloading devices, are individually actuated by fluid pressure motors automatically controlled by a programming device, and an air compressor, at times, transfers heated gaseous fluid from one chamber to another to avoid heat losses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to apparatus of the kind commonly referred to as an Autoclave, especially to apparatus designed to permit the operation to be carried out more or less continuously as contrasted with treatment of materials in independent batches and wherein the automatic actuation of the various movable parts of the apparatus is under remote control.

Previous devices of thisgeneral type have usually been of a design such as to require more head room than is usually available in rubber-shoe manufacturing plants; have been inconvenient with reference to the feeding of material into the treating chamber and its removal therefrom, and complicated and expensive With respect to the type of devices provided for actuating the various movable parts, and in many instances have required the constant supervision of an attendant to insure the proper sequence of operations. Moreover, in such prior devices as customarily designed and operated, there is a very substantial waste of heat supplied, resultant from the discharge of heated air or gas from the treating chamber each time a new charge of material is intoduced or a completed charge removed.

SUMMARY The present invention provides an elongate, desirably horizontal treating chamber (thus being acceptable for use where head-room space is limited), this chamber as herein disclosed, by way of example, being defined by a cylindrical casing or tube of a wall thickness, or so reinforced, as to withstand any external or internal pressure to which it may be subjected under various conditions of use and with provision whereby the chamber may be heated or cooled, if desired, and provided at one end with a loading vestibule device and at its other end with an unloading vestibule device, each of said devices being of rigid construction and having an internal chamberfor the reception of the material which 'is to be treated, andeach being movable about a vertical axis from an open position in which its interior chamber isaccessible for the intro duction or removal of material, and each of which is movable about said axis from such open position to a closed position in which'its interior chamber is in free communication with the treating chamber, movable gates operative to form a sealing barrier, at times, between the interior of either, respectively, of said vestibule devices and the treating chamber, means for locking each of said vestibule devices in closed position, at times, means for ejecting material from the loading device into the treating chamber, means for transferring treated material from the treating chamber into the unloading device, means for supplying pressure fluid to the treating chamber, and means for transferring pressure fluid from one closed vestibule device to the other, whereby the energy or other valuable factor, required for conditioning the air may be conserved to prevent waste; solenoid valves for controlling said transferring means; fluid pressure motors for opening and closing the vestibule devices; the gates; the locking means; and the material ejecting and transfer means, and solenoid valves for admitting pressure fluid to and exhausting it from each of said fluid pressure motors. A programming device is operative automatically to control the operation of each of the aforenamed solenoid valves in properly timed relation whereby material placed in the loading device, while the latter is open, is ejected from the latter into the treating chamber after the loading device has been closed, and, after treatment of the material in the treating chamber, the material is automatically withdrawn from the treating chamber into the unloading device, and the latter is then opened to permit removal of the treating material, the material to be treated being moved as slowly or as rapidly as desired from one end of the treating chamber to the other.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic front elevation of the apparatus (with certain parts broken away and others in section) showing both vestibule devices in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, to larger scale, showing the receiving or loading end, only, of the cylinder which defines the treating chamber and with the vestibule device at that end of the apparatus open for the reception of a movable rack carrying shoes to be treated; the rack be ilng mounted on a carriage supported by fixed parallel ra1 s;

FIG.3 is a fragmentary vertical section, to larger scale than FIG. 1, substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the work-supporting rack in elevation, and also showing the coils within the cylinder for the reception of a fluid medium for heating or cooling the chamber;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the arrangement of conduits and valves whereby the apparatus is so controlled as to function in the manner described;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrative of one type of programming device which may be used for the automatic control of the operation of the apparatus, and

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating various settings of the valves which control the transfer of air from one vestibule device to the other.

Referring to the drawings, the character T (FIG. 3) designates the treating chamber which, as here shown, in a preferred embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2), is defined by a series of cylindrical tubular sections 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d (FIG. 1), each having radial flanges 2 at its opposite ends, the adjacent sections being arranged in axial alignment and having the flanges of adjacent sections united by bolts or rivets (not shown), desirably with suitable packing means interposed between opposed flanges thereby providing an air-tight chamber. Within this chamber T (FIG. 3) pipe coils P1 and P2 are disposed closely adjacent to the inner surface of the chamber wall, each of the sections 1a, 1b, etc., as shown here (FIG. 3), having four integral, outstanding nipples N1, N2, N3 and N4, with the opposite ends of the pipe coil P1 in communication with two of the nipples N1 and N2, while the opposite ends of the pipe coil P2 communicate to the nipples N3 and N4 respectively. Each of the pipe coils P P as here shown, extends for approximately circumferentially of the chamber. Pipes 6 (FIG. 1) connect the nipples N1 of the several sections to a header H1, (FIG. 1) while pipes 6a connect the nipples N3 to a header H2. Other pipes 7a (FIG. 1), connect the nipples N2 to headers H3 while pipes 7b connect the nipples N4 to headers H4. Suitable valves, desirably thermostatic and responsive to temperature change in the treating chamber, and diagrammatically indicated, for example, at V7 and V8, provide for controlling the supply of heating or cooling fluid to each individual section 1a, 1b, etc, of the casing. It will be understood that the headers H1, H2, H3 and H4 will be connected by conduits (not here illustrated) to supply and discharged chambers or passages, for example, the intake and discharge of a pump.

With this arrangement the pipe coils within each respective section may be provided with a fluid medium, either liquid or gaseous, by means of which the treating chamber may be heated or cooled as desired. Desirably some conventional means, for example, a motor-driven fan (not shown) may be provided for circulating air within each respective section of the casing.

To the respective endmost tubular sections 1a and 1d, (FIG. 1), flanged valve casings B1 and B2 are secured, in each of which there is housed a vertically sliding valve gate G1, G2, respectively, which may be of a generally conventional, preferably wedge-type and each so designed that when closed it provides a leak-tight seal cutting off the treating chamber from the outside air. Each valve gate is connected to a piston rod secured to a piston (not shown) sliding in a vertical cylinder 14 or 15, respectively, to which pressure fluid may be admitted for closing the valve gates by solenoid valves S8 and S18 (FIG. 1), respectively, and for opening the respective valve gates by solenoid valves, S7 and S17 respectively.

The solenoid valves herein employed are of a type such that when opened the valve admits pressure fluid from a supply to a motor chamber but which, when closed, cuts off the supply and exhausts the pressure fluid from the motor chamber, the solenoid valve opening in response to the closing of a switch supplying current to its coils and closing automatically (for example, by a spring) when the current is cut off.

Each of the casings B1 and B2 (FIG. 1) of the gate valves comprises a radial flange 15 and 16, respectively, to each of which a ring 17 or 18, respectively, is bolted. These rings carry brackets, such as the bracket 19 shown in FIG. 2, on which are pivoted, to swing about vertical axes, the respective vestibule devices A and C (FIG. 1).

Each of these vestibule devices comprises a. cup-like rigid housing 20, 21, respectively, defining an interior chamber Ca (FIG. 1) of an internal diameter substantially like that of the treating chamber T and of a depth, axially, such that the chamber Ca is capable of receiving a rack or other appropriate device for supporting work to be treated. When the vestibule device is closed, it makes leak-tight contact with the corresponding ring 17 or 18, suitable packing (not shown) being interposed between the opposed parts when the vestibule device is closed.

For swinging the vestibule, for example, the vestibule A (FIG. 2) from the open position of FIG. 2 to the closed position of FIG. 1, and vice versa, there is provided a motor cylinder 24 (FIG. 2), which is pivotally supported at one end to swing about a vertical pin 25 (carried by a fixed part) and within which there is a piston (not shown) having a connecting rod provided with a shackle 26 at its outer end which is pivotally connected at 27 to the housing of the vestibule device A. Flexible conduits Y1 and Y2 provide for supplying (under control of solenoid valves diagrammatically indicated at S and S pressure fluid to the opposite ends, respectively, of the cylinder 24 thereby to clsoe and open the vestibule device.

The vestibule device A (FIG. 2) rigidly supports an elongate motor cylinder 30, axially aligned with and projecting from the closed end of the vestibule device, this cylinder having therein a piston (not shown) connected to a piston rod 31, (FIG. 2) extending through a packing gasket into the chamber Ca. To the distal end of the piston rod there is connected a part 32 designed to make contact with the work-supporting rack (when the vestibule device is closed and holds a work-supporting rack K (FIG. 2) and to push the work-supporting rack K through the then open gate valve G1 and into the treating chamber T. The part 32 may, for example, comprise an electromagnet and the work-supporting rack may have an iron plate at its end for engagement by the magnet whereby the part 32 may exert a steadying action when pushing the rack, and may also exert a pulling force on the rack for witdhrawing it from a suitable carriage Y (FIG. 2) and into the open vestibule. Alternatively, the part 32 may have a jaw-type gripper engageable with a complementary member on the rack. Conduits Y3 and Y4 are connected to the opposite ends of the cylinder 30 whereby pressure fluid may be supplied to the cylinder as controlled by solenoid valves diagrammatically indicated at S and S (FIG. 4) for advancing the piston with the part 32 and thus ejecting the work-carrying rack K from the vestibule chamber Ca into the treating chamber T, and for thereafter retracting the part 32.

For delivering work-supporting racks for installation in the vestibule chamber or for supporting the racks as they are removed and carried away from the vestibule chamber after treatment, the apparatus may comprise suitable supports U and U (FIG. 1) resting on the floor F of the structure in which the treating apparatus is housed, each support carrying rails R1, R2 on which there may be mounted a carrier, such as the wheeled carriage Y (FIG. 2) for transporting the work-supporting rack K. These rails are arranged at right angles to the axis of the treating chamber so that when the vestibule device A (FIG. 2) is in the open, work-receiving position, the carriage K may be moved along the rails, for example, by an endless chain 105 driven by a motor 106, thus delivering the rack K to the open end of the vestibule device into which it then may be drawn by the part 32 actuated by the fluid motor 30. In similar manner, a carriage may be moved along the rails carried by the support U (FIG. 1) to receive a rack discharged from the delivery vestibule C.

Having introduced a work-carrying rack K into the chamber Ca of the vestibule device A, the latter may be swung, by the fluid motor 24 (FIG. 2) until the annulus defining the open end of the casing of the vestibule device is brought into registry with the ring 17 at the end of the valve casing D1, whereupon each of a plurality of fluid pressure motors 37 (only one of which is shown and all of which are mounted upon and move with the casing 20 of the vestibule A) actuate corresponding latch devices 39 to lock the vestibule device A in closed position. Desirably these locks are spaced about three inches apart peripherally of the vestibule and are actuated simultaneously.

Flexible conduits and 46 supply pressure fluid to the cylinders 37, as determined by solenoid valves S and S for locking and unlocking the vestibule devices, respectively.

The vestibule device C at the opposite end of the treating chamber is substantially identical with the vestibule device A, which has just been described, and its parts are actuated by fluid pressure motors in the same way, the vestibule device C carrying the motor cylinder 30a (FIG. 1) having therein a piston (not shown) which actuates a piston rod 31a and a part 32a (corresponding in function to the part 32), shown retracted in FIG. 1. Pressure fluid is admitted to the opposite ends of the motor cylinder 30a by solenoid valves S13 and S14 diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 4, respectively. A motor cylin der 24a (FIG. 4), corresponding in function to the motor cylinder 24 of vestibule device A is supplied with pressure fluid by solenoid valves S and S respectively, while other motor cylinders 37a (FIG. 4), corresponding in function to the locking cylinders 37 of vestibule A, are supplied with pressure fluid by solenoid valves S and S An air compressor W2 provides a constant supply of compressed air for actuating the various motors.

As briefly stated, the operation of the device involves the opening of the vestibule A, for example, to the workreceiving position shown in FIG. 2; the introduction of the work to be treated (for example, rubber shoes to be vulcanized) carried by a suitable support K (here termed a rack), into the vestibule chamber; the swinging of the vestibule A to closed position by the motor 24; its locking in closed position by the motor devices 37; and (after the opening of the gate valve G1 by the motor 14) the advance of the piston rod 31 (by the piston in the cylinder 30) to push the work through the open gate valve and into the treating chamber T, it being assumed that the vestibule device C is closed at this time. When the work has been advanced into the treating chamber, the motor 30 withdraws the rod 31 and the part 32 into the chamber Ca of the vestibule A and the gate valve G1 is closed by motor 14. As shown in FIG. 3, suitable fixed guides or rails 40 and 41, at diametrically opposite sides of the treating chamber, receive members 42 and 43 forming parts of a work-supporting rack K. The guides 40 and 41 and parts 42 and 43 are preferably of some material having a low coeflicient of friction, for example, Teflon (the registered trade name of a tetrafluoroethylene polymer). The rack K may be moved through the treating chamber, for example, by means of an endless chain or the like (not shown) or merely by the advance of successive racks into the chamber T, each one pushing another so that the chamber T will eventually be completely filled.

When the work carried by the foremost rack has undergone a sufficient period of treatment, the gate valve G2 at the delivery end of the apparatus will be raised by the piston in the cylinder 15 and the piston rod 31a in the cylinder 24a will be advanced by motor 30a to move the part 32a into enagement with the rack (which at the completion of the treatment was located just inside closed valve gate G2) so as to grip the rack. Then the motor 30a reverses and withdraws the piston rod 31a, retracting the rack into the chamber Ca of the vestibule C. As above suggested, the part 32 may be an electromagnet or it may be some suitable conventional mechanical device which will automatically grip the rack so as to pull it out of the treating chamber as the piston rod 31a is retracted, whereupon the part 32a will be caused to release the rack. The gate valve G2 (actuated by the piston in the cylinder 15) is now closed. Pressure is released from the chamber Ca of the vestibule C, as hereafter described; vestibule C is unlocked and swung open; and the rack, carrying the treated work, is received by a carriage such as the carriage Y, illustrated in FIG. 2, mounted upon the rails R1, R2 carried by the support U During the operation of the device it may be desirable, for example, if the operation be that of vulcanizing a rubber product, to maintain within the treating chamber T a superatmospheric pressure, and likewise to heat the air in chamber T to the vulcanizing temperature. To provide this pressure an air compressor W1 is provided, while the coils P1 or P2 provide means for heating the air. Since the transverse area of each vestibule device is substantial, it would be unsafe to unlock it without first having reduced the fluid pressure within it. Moreover, since the chamber Ca within the vestibule device is of substantial volume, and contains heated air or other gaseous fluid, it is desirable to avoid discharging this fluid from the vestibule into the atmosphere whenever the vestibule is opened, since to do so would represent a waste of heat units as well as a volume of gaseous fluid under pressure and which, under some conditions might consist of or contain an expensive reagent. Furthermore, its release into the ambient air might be highly undesirable. Accordingly, by the present invention, provision is made,

at the proper points in the sequence of operations, so to connect one or the other of the vestibules to the intake of the compressor W1 as to withdraw pressure fluid from the vestibule which is about to be opened thereby to reduce the pressure substantially to atmospheric, and directly to transfer said pressure fluid to the vestibule which is still closed. For this purpose, the interiors of the vestibules A and C communicate with conduits and 101, (FIG. 4) respectively, which are connected, by suitable branch conduits to a conduit 102 which leads to the intake of the compressor W1 and to a conduit 103 which is the output conduit for the compressor. Valves V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and V6, which may be of any desired type, for example, solenoid valves, and which are controlled, either manually or, preferably by suitable programming apparatus, are so opened and closed in proper sequence that at times the compressor withdraws pressure fluid from the vestibule A through the conduit 100 and delivers it through the conduit 101 to the vestibule C and at other times reverses the direction of flow. Each conduit 100 or 101 is provided with a check valve C/K (FIG. 4) which is operative to close automatically when the pressure in the vestibule from which air is being withdrawn has dropped to atmospheric.

Thus by the employment of solenoid-actuated valves and without other moving parts, the direction of fluid flow delivered by the compressor may be reversed thus preparing for opening of one or the other vestibule. During some intervals, when certain of the valves V1, V3, V6, V2 and V4 are closed, the compressor will run idly.

The compressor W2 (FIG. 4) as above noted, supplies air to the several fluid pressure motor cylinders, as permitted by the several solenoid valves, it being noted as already pointed out, that the valves are of well-known type which, when closed, provide for the exhaust or discharge of pressure fluid.

More specifically, as to the control of the several operations, reference may be had to the diagrammatic view (FIG. 4). The operation of the device with respect to the several valves is substantially as follows:

Assume that vestibule A has been unlocked and opened (FIG. 2) but that the pusher 32 has been advanced to the open end of the vestibule A; that gates G1 and G2 are closed, that vestibule C is closed and the article-withdrawing device 32a has been retracted and has drawn a rack of processed shoes into vestibule C and the valves V1, V2, V3, V4 and V6 are closed and compressor W1 is running idly, the apparatus is now in condition to have a new charge of shoes introduced into the open vestibule A. At this time valve S1 is open and air-pressure is holding vestibule A open, while S2 is closed and has exhausted air from the outer end of the cylinder 24. Valve 83 is open and air pressure is holding the pusher device 32 in ad vanced position and valve S4 is closed and has exhausted air from the inner end of the cylinder 30. Valve 56- is open and air pressure is holding the locks for vestibule A in unlocked position and valve S5 is closed and has exhausted air from the outer ends of the cylinders 37. Valves S8 and S18 (FIG. 1) are open and the pistons in cylinders 14 and 15 are holding the gates G1 and G2 closed, while valves S7 and S17 are closed and have exhausted air from the lower ends of the cylinders 14 and 15. Valve S12 is open, while valve S11 is closed and has exhausted air from the inner end of cylinder 24a. Valve S16 is open and air pressure is holding the locks for vestibule C in locking position. Valve S13 is open and air-pressure is holding the worlowithdrawing element 32a at the outer end of cylinder 30. Work which has been processed is in the vestibule C, and valve S14 is closed and has permitted exhaust of air from the outer end of cylinder 30a.

A rack carrying shoes to be processed is now placed on the carriage Y and moved along the rails R1 and R2 to the open end of the vestibule A. The part 32 is now in position to be engaged by the rack and to grip the rack.

Valve S4 is now opened to retract the piston in cylinder 30 so that the part 32 retreats and draws the rack into the vestibule A. Valve S2 (FIG. 2) is now opened to swing the vestibule A to closed position, and valve S6 is opened to close the locks for vestibule A. Valve S7 is opened to lift the gate G1 and valve S3 is opened to advance the pusher device 32 and thus push the rack carrying the shoes out of the vestible A and through the open gate G1 and into the treating chamber. As soon as the pusher 32 has advanced the rack of shoes through the gate into the treating chamber, the valve S4 is opened, the pusher releases the rack, and the pusher is retracted into the chamber Ca of vestibule A. Valve S8 is now opened to close the gate G1. As soon as the gate G1 is closed, the valves V3, V2, V6 are opened and valves V1, V4, V5 are closed, with the result that the compressor W1 transfers heated air from the vestibule C to the closed vestibule A. The advance of the rack of shoes from the vestibule A into the treating chamber as above described, pushes previously received racks towards the vestibule C. Assuming that the shoes on the foremost rack in the treating chamber have been vulcanized and the thus foremost rack is now closely adjacent to the closed gate G2, the valve S17 is opened to raise the gate G2, thus permitting the said foremost rack within the treating chamber to be pulled into vestibule C. Valve S14 is opened, thus advancing the work-retracting element 32a through the open gate G2. The part 32a now grips the foremost rack in readiness to withdraw it from the treating chamber. Prior to the opening of the gate G2 the valves V1, V2, V3, V4 and V6 were closed and valve V5 opened and the compressor W1 was running idle preparatory to the opening of vestibule C. Valve S13 is now opened thus retracting the member 32a and drawing the rack of processed shoes into the chamber Ca of vestibule C, whereupon valve S18 is opened to close the gate G2. Valves V3, V6 and V2 are now opened and valves V1, V5 and V4 are closed thereby withdrawing air from vestibule C so as to reduce air pressure therein to atmospheric, and to transfer the heated air therefrom to closed vestibule A. Valve S16 is now opened to unlock vestibule C. Valve S11 is opened to swing vestibule C to the open position, carrying with it the completed shoes. The rack of shoes may now be discharged from the vestibule C by opening valve S14, and placed on a carriage similar to the carriage Y and carried away to any desired point of discharge. Valve S13 is now opened to retract part 32a and valve S12 opened to swing vesti bule C back to closed position. Valve S15 is actuated to lock vestibule C, and valve S17 is opened to close gate G2.

The apparatus is now ready to have the vestibule A reopened to receive another rack of shoes. However, prior to opening vestibule A, the valves V1, V2, V3, V4 and V6 are closed and valve V5 opened so that the compressor W1 runs idly. Preparatory to the opening of vestibule A, the valves V3, V5 and V2 are closed, while valves V1, V4 and V6 are open, whereupon the compressor will withdraw air from the closed vestibule A through the conduit 100 and discharge it into the vestibule C through the conduit 101. Valve S6 is now opened to actuate the locks 'for vestibule A so as to unlock the vestibule and valve S1 is opened thereby to swing vestibule A into workreceiving position, the pusher 32 having previously been retracted. The parts are now in the starting position ready for a repetition of the cycle.

Under some circumstances it may be desirable to introduce some gaseous reagent other than air into the treating chamber. For example, in the vulcanization of rubber it is sometimes common to introduce ammonia gas into the vulcanizing chamber. There is provided, in accordance with the present inventiton, a conduit E (FIG. 4) leading to the filter intake of the compressor W1, with a control valve V8 whereby, if it be desired to introduce ammonia gas or the like, the conduit E is connected to a supply of such gas, the valve V8 opened and the operation of the compressor will draw ammonia gas into the system, the valve V8 being closed when a suflicient percentage of the ammonia gas has been introduced.

As above noted, the sequence o'f operation of the various fluid pressure motors may be automatically accomplished by the use of any suitable type of programming device, merely, by way of example, a device such as suggested in FIG. 5. As shown, a drum D, desirably of insulating material, for example, a hard synthetic plastic, is turned at constant angular velocity by suitable motor mechanism, including a speed varying device I (FIG. 5), of conventional type, the drum having secured to, or embedded in its periphery, strips M of magnetic material, for example, iron or steel, arranged in a predetermined pattern and of predetermined peripheral extent, and with rigid bus bars Q, also desirably of insulating material, arranged closely adjacent to the periphery of the drum and constituting supports for conventional proximity switches X3, these switches being of the kind which are actuated by the passage of one of the metallic strips M, so that the switch is opened or closed, without actual contact with any moving part. These switches will be connected into the circuits of the several solenoid valves, and, assuming that the drum is driven by the motor mechanism and speed reducer so that the drum makes one complete revolution for each cycle of operation of the treating apparatus, the various fluid pressure motors comprised in the apparatus will be actuated in proper sequence such as above described. Desirably the control strips M of the drum D are set into peripheral grooves in the drum so that they may be slipped, relatively to one another, peripherally of the drum for adjustably timing the several valves, provision being made, for example, by set screws or the like for retaining the strips in selected adjusted position. No attempt has been made in the perspective view of FIG. 5 to show the actual lengths or exact relative positions of the strips M, the strips being dimensioned and positioned in accordance with the particular program of operations desired and with reference to the materials being treated and the reagents employed in their treatment. It is to be understood that the device of FIG. 5 is merely suggestive of one type of programming device and that the invention is not to be limited to the use of such a mechanical programming device, but contemplates the employment of any programming device, mechanical, electronic, or otherwise, the construction and mode of operation of which are well understood.

The apparatus as above described is useful not only for vulcanizing articles, comprising or consisting of rubber, at the pressure and temperature appropriate for such treatment but also for further example, for drying materials or articles, for example, leather, textile material, paper or wood, at selected pressures, either above or below atmospheric and at a temperature either above or below the ambient temperature.

It will be observed that with both gate valves open and with the valves V1 to V4 and V6 set as shown in FIG. 8, if the valve V5 is then opened, the pressure fluid will be released from the entire system.

While fluid pressure motors have herein been suggested as the means for actuating the various valves, it is to be understood that appropriate motors of other type, for example electrically-actuated motor devices such as solenoid motors, may be substituted for the fluid pressure motors wherever it appears expedient to do so.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising means defining an elongate treating chamber having open ends, means defining a housing at each end of the treating chamber, each housing having an open and closed end, means movably supporting each housing for movement from a closed position in which its open end registers with an open end of the treating chamber to an open position in which said open end is freely exposed for the introduction or withdrawal of material, means operative to move each respective housing from open to closed position and vice versa, fluid means between each respective housing and the corresponding end of the treating chamber, operable at times to form an air tight seal between each respective housing and the corresponding end of the treating chamber when the housing is in closed position, pressure fluid motor means operable at times to move the sealing means from positions such that they provide an air tight seal between the treating chamber and the respective housing when the latter are closed and at other times to open the sealing means to permit communication between the housing and treating chambers, a pressure fluid lock-actuating motor associated with each of the housings, respectively, a locking device actuatable by each of said last means at times to lock each respective housing in closed position and automatic means for controlling and timing the operation of the several elements.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in having an elongate motor cylinder coaxial with each housing and rigidly secured thereto so as to move therewith, a piston within each of said motor cylinders, a piston rod attached to each respective piston, an article gripping element at the free end of each piston rod, and means for supplying pressure fluid to each of said motor cylinders at times and when the adjacent sealing means is retracted, to project the article-gripping element from the housing into the treating chamber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in having pressure fluid motors operative, at times, to move the respective housings from open to closed position and vice versa.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising means defining a horizontal, elongate treating chamber, a gate valve located near each respective end of the chamber, a vestibule device at each end, respectively, of the treating chamber, one vestibule device being a receiving or loading device and the other being a delivery or unloading device, each vestibule device comprising a rigid housing closed at one end and open at the other to define a chamber for the reception of articles of the type designed to be treated, the open end of each vestibule device being substantially the same diameter as that of the treating chamber, pivot means supporting each vestibule device to swing about a vertical axis from a closed position in which its open end registers with one end of the treating chamber, to an open position in which said open end is freely exposed for the introduction or withdrawal of material, means operative to swing each respective vestibule device about its pivotal axis from open to closed position and vice versa., there being an air-tight seal between each respective vestibule device and the corresponding end of the treating chamber when the vestibule device is in closed position and pressure-fluid motor means operative, at times, to move the gate valves, from positions such that they provide an air-tight seal between the treating chamber and the respective vestibule devices, when the latter are closed, and at other times, to open the gate valves to provide communication between the vestibule devices and the treating chamber, further characterized in having at least one pressure-fluid, lock-actuating motor associated with each of the vestibule devices, respectively, and a locking device actuable by each, respectively, of the last-named motors operative, at times, to lock the corresponding vestibule device in closed position with its open end registering with the end of the treating chamber, and automatic means for controlling and timing the operation of the several elements.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in having means for supplying pressure fluid to the treating chamber, and means including a motor-driven device, operative, prior to the unlocking of either of the vestibule devices, to bring the fluid pressure within said vestibule device substantially to atmospheric.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that the means for bringing the fluid pressure in one or the other of the closed vestibule devices, alternatively, substantially to atmospheric is such as to transfer pressure fluid from one vestibule device to the other ves tibule device.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that the means .for supplying pressure fluid to the treating chamber comprises an air compressor having an inlet passage and a discharge passage, and the means for transferring pressure fluid from one vestibule device to the other comprises conduits connected to the air inlet and air discharge passages of the air compressor respectively and valves such that the direction of flow of fluid in said conduits may be reversed without reversing the air compressor.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in having automatic check valves in said conduits operative to prevent reduction of the air pressure in either vestibule substantially below atmospheric.

9. Apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in having a power-driven compressor for supplying pressure fluid to the several fluid pressure motors, and solenoid valves for admitting pressure fluid to and exhausting it from each respective fluid pressure motor as determined by an appropriate programming device.

10. Apparatus for use in the treatment of material by a fluid medium, either gaseous or liquid, hot or cold and at super-atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressure, said apparatus comprising means defining a horizontally elongate, rigid-walled treating chamber provided with a loading device at one end and an unloading device at the other, each of said devices being of rigid construction and having an internal chamber for the reception of the material which is treated, and each being movable about a verticle axis from an open position in which its interior chamber is accessible for the introduction or removal of material, and each of which is movable about said axis from such open position to a closed position in which its interior chamber is in free communication with the treating chamber, movable gates operative to form a sealing barrier, at times, between the interior of either, respectively, of said devics and the treating chamber, means for independently moving each of the respective devices from open position to closed position, means for locking each of said devices in closed position, at times, and power actuated means for ejecting material from the loading device into the treating chamber, and for transferring material from the treating chamber into the unloading device, each of said power actuated means comprising a pressure fluid motor, means operative, at times to supply pressure fluid to each of said motors, valves for admitting an exhausting pressure fluid from each of said several motors, means operative to actuate the several valves in properly timed relation whereby material, placed in the loading device, while the latter is open, is injected from the latter into the treating chamber when the loading device is closed and whereby after treatment of the material in the treating chamber, the material is automatically withdrawn from the treating chamber into the unloading device, and the latter is then opened to permit removal of the treated material, and automatic means for controlling and timing the operation of the several elements.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising means whereby the treating chamber may be sealed off from either or both of the loading and unloading devices, means for delivering a fluid under pressure into the treating chamber whereby a desired working pressure may be established therein, and means operative, prior to unlocking either the loading or unloading device,

1 1 to restore the pressure within said device substantially to atmospheric.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, further characterized in that the means for restoring the pressure in the loading or unloading device, prior to unlocking, is so designed that substantially all pressure fluid within the apparatus is retained therein until the pressure within the device, which is to be opened, has been brought to atmospheric pressure.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for establishing atmospheric pressure in the loading or unloading device While the latter is in closed position comprises an air compressor, conduits connected to the intake and output of the air compressor and which communicate with the loading and unloading devices, respectively, and valves in said conduits which may be opened or closed and which, according to one arrangement, connect the intake of the air compressor with the loading device and in another arrangement connect the intake of the compressor with the unloading devices.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in having means for tempering the fluid medium within the treating chamber comprising at least one conduit located adjacent to the inner periphery of the treating chamber, and means whereby fluid at desired temperature may be supplied to said conduit.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, further characterized in that the treating chamber is defined by a casing comprising a plurality of axially aligned annular sections, and wherein each individual section comprises an individual conduit whereby the temperature of the space within said respective sections may be modified.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each conduit comprises a bank of tubing extending longitudinally of each respectively section, said bank of tubing lining each section throughout an arc of approximately 120, at each side of the diametrical vertical plane of the section, and headers for supplying a temper- 12 ature-modifying fluid to the runs of conduit of the several sections, and valves for controlling the delivery of fluid to said banks of tubing.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in having a guiding track extending from end to end of the treating chamber operative to guide a movable support for material to be treated, said track being of a material having a low coeflicient of friction.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, further characterized in that the automatically actuated control means is operative, at the end of a predetermined period, after material to be treated has been admitted to the treating chamber through the gate valve at one end of the latter, to open the gate valve at the opposite end of the treating chamber thereby to permit the treated material to be withdrawn into the other vestibule device.

19. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, for operating the several fluid pressure motors, solenoid valves are provided, each said valve being of the kind which admits pressure fluid from a supply to one chamber of the motor when open and which exhausts fluid from said chamber when closed, and automatic programming means for operating the several valves in predetermined sequence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 25,019 8/1961 Richter 34206 XR 2,750,871 6/1956 Landgraber, et al. 49-340 XR 2,842,349 7/1958 Ipsen 263-6 2,895,810 7/1959 Casey, et al. 23285 JAMES H. TAYMAN, 111., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

